Stop and Smell the Fun

This is the best part of the holidays; I hope I don't miss it. I get to see our sons for four straight days. They live close, but we only get together every few months. I enjoy their company: they're fun, smart, interesting. [As is our daughter who lives with us, so we get the pleasure of her company daily.] Ohio will relinquish my youngest sister, her husband, and their 3 young sons to Kansas City family. They become our nucleus while the rest of my family spins in orbit around them. We'll partake in a 4-day gluttony of food and games. It's easy to be left hungover by the experience. My goal this year is to focus on the 3 F's: family, food, and fun -- without getting caught up in the spin cycle...or becoming a free radical.

Heeding the Voices from Beyond

I'm a good bowler, but a terrible housekeeper. This morning I bowled a 605 (194, 188, 223), then I came home and cleaned like a mad woman. What inspired me? A nightmare. I was scared clean. A bunch of government types were in my house that had been trashed. It was an obvious set up, but I was totally panicked as I was being arrested. As usual, I had the additional dream quirk that I never figure out. Kevin Bacon was one of the suits, but he was only 4 foot tall, with a shriveled head. I was pleading with him and abhorred at the same time. So it's not the Martha Stewertesque cleaning tips that inspire me. It's fear. Over the years, I've found I don't need dream interpretation; but I best do the obvious. Do I think my Higher Power has nothing better to do than send me a cleaning dream? Hell no. My mother sent this one. Easier to clean than to test that woman.

What's in a Name?

It took me over 3 months to start my blog because I wanted the perfect name. Is this it? Of course not. I've had great ideas over the years, I just can't remember most of them. Now I'm probably stepping on others toes (sorry) and connecting myself unintentionally with Multiple Sclerosis. Everyone's heard of the Big C. I've had the Big 3: HIV, Brain Tumor, Breast Cancer. This is not to leave out the smaller players: Lyme disease, chronic insomnia, hysterectomy, etc., etc. I've filled out more patient questionnaires at more physician offices than a birth control-free Catholic family of ten would in a lifetime. I used to get perturbed at the task. Now I find it a bit amusing. First I check all the boxes of every diagnosis I've had. Then there's the list of surgeries. Finally, my list of prescriptions that doesn't always fit in the space provided. Then there's my favorite question: How would you describe your health. In all seriousness, I check the "Good" box. I hope, along with me, they have a chuckle at the irony. After all, laughter, good insurance, and a healthcare background really are the best medicines.

Whatever Happed to World AIDS Day?

I'm fairly certain most people don't know that December 1st was World AIDS Day. They used to be reminded by local and national news, PSAs, even an occasional movie dealing with HIV. I don't know if it's because it fell on a Saturday this year, but I never saw or heard anything about it. I always remember myself anyway; being HIV+ is a built-in reminder. But I don't think it's too much to ask that everyone else be reminded at least once a year that there's a lot of us out here living with HIV. I wanted to start my blog on World AIDS Day...it seemed fitting. But I was gone, so my timing is off; par for the course. I wore my red ribbon pin on Friday and Saturday. One day never seems like enough to remember and honor all the people I've known who've died of AIDS. The only other AIDS pin I saw this year was on the visor of Bob Stoops, the OK football coach. I sure didn't want his team to beat ours, but I admired him for recognizing World AIDS Day.